Clergy

Reverend Janice Krause, Interim Rector

Do you remember Pantyhose in egg packaging? While I didn’t come up with that idea, I helped to market and sell it to America. My background is corporate, and that means that I have a passion for numbers, organizational structures, and making things work. Now I get to use those gifts for building the body of Christ!

But I guess I’m starting in the middle. Born right outside of Cleveland, my earliest memories come from a time when my father was working, and we were living, in Switzerland. A Purdue University graduate, I got to Texas as quickly as I could after college. While I traveled extensively for the egg packaging job, Texas was usually my base. When God called me into ordained ministry, I had already served on Vestries, in Christian Education as a teacher and a director, helped plant a new parish, reformed the Pastoral Care ministry of one of the largest Episcopal parishes in the country, and volunteered to serve in nearly every aspect of parish life.

I received special permission to attend Brite Divinity School (because it was not an Episcopal seminary), to participate in their Pastoral Counseling program. From there, I quickly moved to a suburban parish in McKinney, and then to St. Philip’s in Frisco (both just north of Dallas). At St. Philip’s, I served as Executive Pastor (chief of staff) for one of the fastest growing Episcopal churches in the US. But God was calling me to Central Texas.

I just finished my contract as Priest in Charge of St. James’, here in Austin. I’ve never lost the fire and passion that God gave me to use my gifts to reach out to attract others to the saving gift of our Lord. I’m all about helping others become (better) disciples of Jesus. Growing in the life of grace, I’m thrilled to accept this opportunity to help St. Luke’s on the Lake live into your calling. I can’t wait to meet you!

My husband and I are avid baseball fans (Rangers), hockey fans (Stars), and have a cat (Maggie) who waits patiently under our bird feeder for God’s abundance.

Reverend Andrew Benko, Interim Supply Priest

Andrew Benko, a New Orleans native, graduated from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in 2005. He has served in parishes in St. Louis, MO, Shreveport, LA, and Fort Worth. He recently graduated from Brite Divinity school with his Ph.D. In biblical interpretation (New Testament).

Andrew lives in Austin with his wife Hope, who is also an Episcopal priest and their two children: Harper (10) and Grayson (7). Andrew enjoys science fiction, video games, and live music.